Jose Berrios

Berrios entered last year as Minnesota's top pitching prospect, but his first tour of the majors went so poorly it raised questions about his viability to make an impact with the Twins. Berrios began ...

Berrios (8-2) allowed four runs -- three earned -- over 6.0 innings Thursday against the Orioles but still managed to notch his eighth win of the season. He struck out four batters while issuing no walks over 101 pitches.

Berrios, the 32nd overall pick in the 2012 draft, is Minnesota's top pitching prospect and could win a spot in the starting rotation this spring. He began last season at Double-A Chattanooga and was dominant with a 3.08 ERA and 9.2 K/9. He then was even better after being promoted to Triple-A with a 2.62 ERA and 9.9 K/9. Minnesota decided not to call him up in September over concerns about his workload. People once questioned his upside given his smaller frame (6-feet, 187 pounds), but he's put most of those issues to rest after dominating at the higher levels of the minors. It's possible the Twins could keep Berrios at Triple-A for a couple weeks to gain an extra year of control, but he has proven all he can in the minors, and should be a mainstay in the Twins' rotation at some point in the early going.

2015

Berrios, the 32nd overall pick in the 2012 draft, jumped three levels in 2014 and has staked his claim to be considered Minnesota's top pitching prospect. He began the season at High-A, but was promoted to Double-A in July after going 9-3 with a 1.96 ERA and 109:23 K:BB ratio in 96.1 innings. His numbers were not as impressive at Double-A as he had a 3.54 ERA and just a 6.2 K/9, but he held his own as a younger player age 20 at the level. Berrios then made one appearance in September at Triple-A. He has a mid-90s fastball and showed strong strikeout rates before Double-A (10.2 K/9 at High-A) with good control. While some analysts question his upside given his smaller frame (6-feet, 187 pounds), he's also seen as athletic with strong secondary pitches. Berrios will likely begin the season at Double-A, but a strong first few months could push him to the majors by the end of the summer.

2014

Berrios, the 32nd overall pick in the 2012 draft, was impressive in his first full season as a professional. He had a 3.99 ERA, 8.7 K/9 and 100:40 K:BB ratio with Low-A Cedar Rapids at just 19 years old. He did give up 10 runs in 10 innings in his final two starts, after missing time with a right elbow contusion, but he's expected to be fully healthy by spring training. The high school draft pick out of Puerto Rico is not huge at 6-0, 190, but he's able to hit the mid-90s with his fastball and is seen as athletic. A strong season at High-A could put him in position to join the Minnesota rotation in 2015.

2013

Berrios, the 32nd overall pick in the 2012 draft, had an impressive professional debut as he had a 1.17 ERA and 49:4 K:BB in 30.2 innings between two levels of rookie ball. The high school draft pick out of Puerto Rico is not huge at six-feet and 190 pounds, but he is able to hit the mid-90s with his fastball and is seen as athletic. He could quickly rise to among Minnesota's top pitching prospects with a strong showing in his first full season.